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Another Headache for NASA; Sports & Scandals; Clinton/Obama Slugfest
Aired July 27, 2007 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You're with CNN. I'm Heidi Collins.
Tony Harris is off today.
Developments coming into the CNN NEWSROOM on this Friday, July 27th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Wasted on the final frontier? A new reports suggests astronauts were drinking more than Tang before liftoff.
Also, off road, into trouble. A truck hydroplanes then flips. Two teens, two toddlers trapped.
And good players, bad role models. Fears that fallen heroes could turn kids off sports.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I want to show you this dramatic rescue caught on tape. A news crew from CNN affiliate KPHO was covering flooding problems around Phoenix and got this.
Cameras were rolling when this pickup truck hydroplaned and skidded off the road. The vehicle rolled over and landed upside down in a drainage ditch. Two teenagers and two toddlers were trapped inside.
Witnesses jumped in the water, and after a few terrifying moments, they got the doors open and pulled everybody out. Police say everyone was wearing seat belts. No one was seriously hurt.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Unfolding this hour, Houston, we have a problem. But is it a drinking problem? A report of astronauts flying while intoxicated causing headaches for NASA. It stems from another embarrassing incident.
John Zarrella explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the aftermath of astronaut Lisa Nowak's February arrest for attempted kidnapping of another astronaut's love interest, NASA set up a panel to study the space agency's medical and psychological screening process. In its investigation, the panel apparently turned up some serious allegations.
According to "Aviation Week" magazine, which obtained a copy of the report, two astronauts were allowed to fly, even after flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were so intoxicated they posed a flight safety risk.
The panel also found, according to "Aviation Week," "heavy use of alcohol" by astronauts within 12 hours of launch. Thursday, following a briefing on the next shuttle flight, NASA's deputy administrator said he had never dealt with safety issues involving inebriated astronauts.
BILL GERSTENMAIER, NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR: There has not been a disciplinary action or anything I've been involved with regarding this type of activity.
ZARRELLA: Two former shuttle astronauts we spoke with found the allegations "mindboggling". One told me he was not aware of anyone "unduly using alcohol prior to launch." The other said, "Not a chance." This former commander said he would have "thrown the person off the crew."
It's not known on what flights these incidents supposedly took place or whether the names of the astronauts involved will ever be released. Another NASA official spoke to The Associated Press saying the allegations of pre-launch drinking are based anonymous interviews and are unsubstantiated.
(on camera): The astronauts I spoke with said that no flight surgeons they ever worked with would have allowed this to take place. And if in fact it did occur, they told me, that at the very least, the shuttle launches would have been scrubbed.
John Zarrella, CNN, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: OK. So NASA will be responding to the reports of astronauts flying under the influence. The space agency is going to be holding a news conference, 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
You can catch that live right here in the NEWSROOM.
We are learning more this hour about a bombing in Pakistan. A deadly blast at a restaurant near the Red Mosque in Islamabad, it happened just a short time ago. Ten people dead, 39 injured.
Today marks the first time worshippers were allowed inside the mosque since the bloody siege there earlier this month. Dozens of people were killed then. Muslim students have been clashing with police; many want to impose a Taliban-style Islamic government.
New questions this morning about whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been telling the truth under oath. FBI Director Robert Mueller apparently contradicting Gonzales. Mueller testifying before Congress about Gonzales' 2004 visit to then attorney general John Ashcroft's hospital room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: The discussion was on a national -- an NSA program that has been much discussed, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: That seems to fly in the face of Gonzales' testimony on Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The dissent related to other intelligence activities, the dissent was not about the terrorist surveillance program.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The TSP? Come on. If you say it's about other, that implies not. Now say it or not.
GONZALES: It was not -- it was about other intelligence activities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: TSP, Terrorist Surveillance Program. And even before Mueller's testimony, top Democrats were calling for a perjury investigation of Gonzales.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHUMER: The attorney general took an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Instead, he tells the half- truth, the partial truth and everything but the truth. And he does it not once and not twice, but over and over and over again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: President Bush is standing by his embattled attorney general. The White House insists Gonzales and Mueller were talking about two completely different intelligence operations.
In Alabama early today, a terrifying head-on collision are between an SUV and a Greyhound bus packed with people. Police say the sports utility vehicle was going the wrong way on an interstate in Montgomery when it slammed into the bus. The SUV driver was killed. At least 13 people on the bus were hospitalized with moderate to serious injuries.
Reality star Nicole Richie playing an all-too-real role of defendant. She heads to court today to answer charges in her DUI case.
Richie was arrested last December after allegedly driving the wrong way on a California highway. The TMZ Web site says she will plead guilty or no contest to driving under the influence. The site says a court commissioner will sentence Richie immediately. Sources tell TMZ Richie will serve a minimum of five days in jail since this reportedly would be her second DUI conviction. Lucky to be alive. A 2-year-old falls from a six-story apartment window and suffers only minor injuries. It happened in New York, and the boy's father says his son landed in some shrubs and he has no broken bones. According to police, the mother was in another room when the boy climbed up on some toys and fell.
Running away on the runway. Sky Harbor International Airport, a dog not waiting for takeoff instructions.
As a safety precaution, air traffic controllers delayed a US Airways jet from landing. The pup even made his way into one of the airport's terminal buildings. After about 30 minutes or so, airport workers finally corralled Fido and handed him over to animal control folks.
The race for the White House heating up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But I don't want to see the power and prestige of the United States president put at risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, a slugfest in the making.
And NFL star Michael Vick in court under scrutiny and possibly facing more troubles.
And more trouble for the director of "Sicko". Michael Moore says the Bush administration has subpoenaed him.
Mel Gibson vowed to make amends but was there any follow-through?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And has anyone ever heard from him? Are there Jewish groups? I'm not aware of any groups or survivors that he has contacted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Stars' promises, are they really keeping them? We're keeping them honest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Welcome back, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Sports scandals, what do you tell your kids when their idols fall from grace?
That story coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Michael Vick, could the NFL face new troubles now? Federal prosecutors say they could seek more charges and more defendants in the dog fighting case. The NFL star entered a not guilty plea yesterday in Virginia and faces a November trial.
Dog lovers and animal rights activists protested outside the courthouse. They outnumbered and out-shouted Vick's supporters. Vick's attorney says he will prove his client's innocence. He promises a hard-fought trial, but one prominent defense attorney says it may be a losing battle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICKEY SHERMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I would be making a deal as quickly as possible. I would be doing what they call a mea culpa.
I would admit responsibility. I would be asking for mercy, for forgiveness, and just explaining how incredibly stupid my client was and how he's going to make amends to society by contributing a billion hours of volunteer work, his next year's NFL salary, god knows what. But this case I don't think is winnable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: As Vick was in court, the case literally loomed over his team. A plane circled over the start of the Falcons' training camp carrying a sign that read, "New Team Name? Dog Killers."
Michael Vick and dog fighting, Barry Bonds and steroids, an NBA ref and gambling -- CNN's Keith Oppenheim looks at sports scandals and kids.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Fourteen-year-old Emily Roberts (ph) is working her bank shot at the University of Chicago summer sports camp. The athlete in her family, Emily loves soccer, swimming and basketball. But her emotions change when she talks about professional athletes and scandal.
(on camera): Do you feel like when you hear these stories about Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, or a ref in the NBA, that it hurts your trust?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think definitely it does. I think, you know, sports is supposed to be a love of the game, not having to worry about who is taking steroids, who is betting on stuff. It shouldn't really be about that.
OPPENHEIM (voice over): Emily's father also worries that sports idols who behave badly are bad role models.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It may encourage them to try some of these things to try to excel.
OPPENHEIM (on camera): To cheat?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because they see it and they don't see people getting punished. I think that's the serious part of it at this point.
OPPENHEIM (voice over): Outside, 12-year-old Colin Minor (ph) scores a touchdown on the football field. He's been unhappy about accusations he's heard about the Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If someone is your hero, you don't think they can do anything wrong, but when -- with the dog fighting, a lot of kids whose hero was Michael Vick have essentially had their world put upside down.
OPPENHEIM: Some coaches here worry that type of disappointment might turn kids away from sports.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're not going to have as many heroes or look up to professional athletes the way I did when I was a kid.
OPPENHEIM: Another coach, Tom Mitchell (ph), says parents should be aware kids get dejected when they hear their idols are not infallible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're definitely taking it in, and that's where I think the parents need to step in and talk to their kids about it. And just a conversation they have around their dinner table.
OPPENHEIM (on camera): But as a parent, what can you tell your kids? Some of the coaches we spoke to emphasized, tell your kids that high- profile athletes are humans who sometimes make bad choices. Try to tell them that these are people, not superstars to be mimicked.
Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are trading barbs. One touting experience, the other, new blood.
CNN's chief national correspondent, John King, tracks the Clinton/Obama slugfest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Early morning in New Hampshire, Barack Obama serves notice he isn't about to back down.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's no longer sufficient for us to trot out the old formulas, the old tired phrases. If we want fundamental change, then we can't be afraid to talk to our enemies.
KING: Then, he ups the ante in a Democratic campaign turned suddenly raw, comparing Hillary Clinton to the president and vice president Democrats love to hate.
OBAMA: I don't want a continuation of Bush/Cheney. I don't want Bush/Cheney-lite. I want a fundamental change.
KING: It was pointed, personal, and guaranteed to draw a return fire.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is getting kind of silly. You know, I have been called a lot of things in my life, but I have never been called George Bush or Dick Cheney, certainly.
You know, you have to ask, what's ever happened to the politics of hope?
KING: Team Clinton suggests Obama is abandoning his promise of a new polite brand of politics, because being nice hasn't sliced into the front-runner's healthy lead in the polls.
Whatever the reason, this dust-up has turned the Democratic contest caustic -- Mrs. Clinton suggesting her challenger is naive about the ways of the world.
CLINTON: But I don't want to see the power and prestige of the United States president put at risk by rushing in to meetings with the likes of Chavez and Castro and Ahmadinejad.
KING: Obama firing back that everyday Americans want to rewrite the way Washington does business.
OBAMA: I'm not afraid of losing the P.R. war to dictators. I'm happy to look them in the eye and say what needs to be said.
KING: It all began at CNN/YouTube debate Monday night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea?
COOPER: Senator Obama?
OBAMA: I would.
COOPER: Senator Clinton?
CLINTON: Well, I will not promise to meet with the leaders of these countries during my first year. I will promise...
KING: The Clinton camp promoted the exchange as a clear smack down that suggested the 45-year-old Obama did not understand that making such a promise up front would undermine U.S. leverage in any sensitive diplomacy.
But, when asked directly Thursday if Obama lacks the necessary experience to be president, Mrs. Clinton was more careful. CLINTON: Well, the voters are going to have to draw those conclusions. Where we disagree, I think, it's fair to draw that difference.
KING: It's also fair to say the tensions are mounting, and, at least for now, forget all that water cooler talk of a Clinton/Obama or an Obama/Clinton ticket.
John King, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The YouTube and CNN Democratic presidential debate, it is the history-making debate every one is still talking about. It's where you, CNN viewers, got to ask the questions.
Eight Democratic hopefuls fielded video questions submitted online through YouTube in a first-of-its-kind event. The questions were picked from thousands of entries. They ranged from the Iraq war, to education, to taxes.
If you missed even a second of the CNN/YouTube Democratic debate, you can see it again in its entirety Saturday and Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
And calling all independent thinkers. Now get your questions ready for the Republican candidates. Then watch the CNN/YouTube Republican debate. They will happen live, interactive, on TV, online, only on your home for politics, CNN, September 7th, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Her cat killed by a neighbor's dog. But guess who gets the citation?
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas, and I'm out here in Glendale, California. And the circus is back in town.
In fact, this time it's not for Paris Hilton, but it's for Nicole Richie, who is expected in court today to cop a plea in her alleged DUI trail.
That's coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Life, it turns out, is not so simple for Nicole Richie. The socialite-turned-reality-star is are due in court in Glendale, California, in just about 10 minutes or so on a DUI charge. There is word she may have cut a deal that includes jail time.
Standing by live outside the courthouse, CNN entertainment correspondent, Sibila Vargas.
Good morning, Sibila.
We see Nicole Richie there -- yes. VARGAS: Good morning, Heidi.
As you can see, yes, she is making her way into court right now. Like you said, some people are expecting her to cop a plea in this DUI case.
Now, she was expected in court August 16th. That's when the trial was set to arrive -- or set to begin. But in this case, she's arriving a little bit early, a few days early, in fact. And a lot of people are expecting her to cop a plea in this are particular deal.
Now, this stems back to a DUI arrest that happened December 11th. Police officers apparently got a call -- or got a few calls, actually, from some -- they got some 911 calls from some drivers who say that they saw someone driving the wrong way on a Burbank freeway.
When the officers got to the scene, they found Nicole Richie. They say that she was, in fact, intoxicated. They did some breathalyzer tests to determine that she was drinking -- or allegedly drinking. And they also said that she had admitted to smoking marijuana and also being on prescription painkillers.
Now, Nicole Richie has pled not guilty. That was back in February. But again, they're saying that perhaps now -- she is back in court, but she is here to cop a plea.
COLLINS: Now, Sibila, this is potentially the second DUI that she's gotten. Tell us more about that.
VARGAS: Exactly. Well, there is an alleged conviction -- I'm not sure why it's alleged, but it's an alleged conviction that dates back to 2003.
Now, if that is the case, and if she gets convicted twice in California, under California vehicle code, two convictions can lead to 90 days to a year in jail. So, that's a lot of time, certainly for a Hollywood starlet.
But as you know, you know, news with these Hollywood starlets is just rampant. Paris Hilton just served some days in a jail for alcohol- related reckless driving.
So, you know, it's not certain how Nicole Richie is feeling right now, but perhaps she wants to plea something right now. And there are also these reports that are swirling that she is pregnant with -- you know, with Joel Madden, a singer -- a musician's child. And she has not confirmed this. Apparently, she was supposed to, or at least an "Access Hollywood" report says that she was supposed to speak to Diane Sawyer sometime next week.
So, her coming to court today might have a lot to do with the fact that a lot of people think that she is indeed pregnant.
COLLINS: Could you tell when she walked by?
VARGAS: I couldn't tell, no. But she's a very petite little woman. COLLINS: True.
VARGAS: So --I was pregnant, too, at some time. I have two children. And I was little for a very long time. So I don't think you can tell just by looking at a person.
COLLINS: Probably not. But I had to ask.
All right. So we will continue to watch this story today.
It is possible she could be sentenced after entering that plea, if it all happens that way.
Sibila Vargas, thanks so much, live from L.A. today.
Still ahead this morning, testimony from the nation's top law enforcer in question. The latest controversy involving Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. That story ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.
COLLINS: More headaches for NASA. Today the space agency responds to a report of astronauts flying while intoxicated. The report is from "Aviation Week and Space Technology." It says on at least two occasions astronauts were allowed to fly even though flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were drunk. No word on when the incident took place. A NASA official says the allegations were from anonymous interviews were from anonymous interviews and were unsubstantiated. The report stems from a specific panel appointed after the Lisa Nowak incident, the former astronaut fired after she was accused of attacking a romantic rival.
NASA says it was sabotaged. The agency says a computer bound for the International Space Station was intentionally damaged. An employee working for a subcontractor accused of cutting wires on the computer. A NASA manager says the damage would not have posed any major danger to the shuttle astronauts or the space station. NASA hopes to fix the computer in time for the Shuttle Endeavor launch. That is set for August 7.
In Wisconsin, the search for a missing college student is over. Police say the body found inside a sunken car is probably 21-year-old Mahalia Xiong. The car clothing and tattoos match up. A couple of weeks ago she vanished after a night out with friends. Police say no foul is suspected. She apparently drove into the Fox River by accident.
Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore says he's being subpoenaed, a result of his trip to Cuba while filming "Sicko." Moore says he went there to get help for rescue workers who suffered health problems after responding to the 9/11 attacks. Moore has been a frequent critic of President Bush. He says he was notified of the subpoena while awaiting for an appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno last night. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: I was just informed was I was back there with Jay that the Bush administration has now issued a subpoena for me, going after me for helping these 9/11 rescue workers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: "Sicko" compares U.S. health care with government health care in other countries and travel to Cuba is restricted by the U.S. government.
U.S. troop deaths in Iraq down so far this month. Commanders say that is evidence the so-called surge is working. Here now is CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. military says it predicted the number of combat deaths would rise in the initial phase of the surge as U.S. and Iraqi troops went into new areas to clear out insurgents. And it also predicted casualties would drop as those areas became safer and more secure. The fact that the number of Americans who are dying in Iraq now is just over half of what it was two months is touted as progress.
LT. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, DEP. COMMANDER, U.S. FORCES IRAQ: This is what we thought would happen. Once we get control of the key areas that are controlled by these terrorists. So we'll see if the trend continues. It's an initial positive sign.
MCINTYRE: After three months in which more than 100 U.S. troops died, July is on track to be one of the least deadly of the year. Unless 15 more deaths are recorded before the end of the month, which is possible.
Still, the whole point of the surge is to set the stage for Iraqi political reconciliation. And the top U.S. envoy to Iraq admitted in an interview with the Associated Press that's still a long way off.
RYAN CROCKER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: This is a tough slog that we're involved in. There are no easy, quick, magic answers at this stage. But I think it's very important that for our own interests, that we stay with this until Iraq gets to a point are of sustainable stability. Because I think that can be done.
MCINTYRE (on camera): Crocker told the Associated Press while the surge is bringing down the level of violence, it's impossible to rush political reconciliation or even predict when the U.S. could start pulling out. That's significant because Crocker along with General David Petraeus will be making that vital September assessment. Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: In suburban Atlanta, a woman plans to fight a citation for not having her cat on a leash. She was cited after a dog killed the cat in her yard. Eric Phillips of Affiliate WSB has details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's unbearable. (inaudible) I was trying to help Bailey (ph) and I couldn't.
ERIC PHILLIPS, WSB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The horror began for Shirley Reeves (ph) when she arrived at her Mapleton home after work on Monday. A blood-stained driveway marks where a dog that had broken off its leash from two doors down attacked her cat, Bailey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Neighbors came with sticks and tried to make the dog release my cat but he just wouldn't. He just held on for dear life.
PHILLIPS: By the time the dog let go, Bailey was dead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But then when the animal control came, they gave me a citation because my cat was not on a leash.
PHILLIPS: According to Cobb County ordnance, Bailey, the cat should have been on a leash. The attack happened in my yard and Bailey was attended to.
We talked to the owner of the home where the dog was staying who also was cited under the leash law. She owns two pit bulls who were not involved in this incident. The boxer hound dog mix that was involved belongs to a friend. She says that dog remains in Cobb Animal Control and won't be back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mostly because I think it would upset our neighbors.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll see it through. We'll get over it.
PHILLIPS: The dog that attacked the woman's cat likely to go to a rescue group.
Still ahead, testimony from the nation's top law enforcer in question. The latest controversy involving Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: New questions this morning about what Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been telling the truth under oath. FBI Director Robert Mueller apparently contradicting Gonzales now. Mueller testifying before Congress about Gonzales '2004 visit to then Attorney General John Ashcroft's hospital room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: The discussion was on a national NSA program that has been much discussed, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, that just seems to fly in the face of Gonzales' testimony on Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The dissent related to other intelligence activities, the dissent was not about the terrorist surveillance program.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER, (D) NY: Not the TSP. If you say it's about other, that implies not. Say it or not.
GONZALES: It was about other intelligence activity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Even before Mueller's testimony, top Democrats were calling for a perjury investigation of Gonzales.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHUMER: The attorney general took an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Instead, he tells the half truth, the partial truth and everything but the truth. And he does it not once and not twice but over and over and over again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: President Bush is standing by his embattled attorney general. The White House insists Gonzales and Mueller were talking about two completely different intelligence operations. So joining me now to discuss the Gonzales controversy, former congressman and U.S. attorney Bob Barr. OK. So first off, Bob, do we really know whether or not the two are contradicting one another?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB BARR, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: Well, it seems that common sense and all that's happened in this case, if you look at FBI Director Mueller's testimony and the attorney general's testimony, it seems to me that there's no conclusion other than the fact they are talking about the same kind thing. There aren't too many programs like this that have been quote, "much discussed" lately.
COLLINS: Right, so if they are contradicting each other, if we find that out later as this whole thing continues to go, how bad is that in perspective forever us, what does it mean for the Department of Justice?
BARR: It's extremely important and extremely problematic for both the attorney general and the president. The one commodity that is more important, more valuable than any other in Washington and in running a department like the Department of Justice is your integrity. The whole system of criminal justice in our country is based on integrity of the officials involved, whether they be judges or prosecutors.
And when that ingredient is taken away, it's like taking away the foundation of a house of sand. The whole thing will crumble. People will lose confidence in the system of justice. The department will lose credibility and it will start to drift and founder.
COLLINS: What is being done about it? Maybe at a lower level on a day-to-day basis for the Department of Justice? You have the attorney general who is facing problems, whether or not you believe that he lied or not, as this investigation will hopefully prove. What happens on a day-to-day basis?
BARR: On a day-to-day basis, of course, the department has thousands of very professional employees, lawyers, investigators, administrators and so forth. They will continue to do their job. So in terms of what the public sees initially, nothing is going to change. The problem, though, for the attorney general in this particular instance is, not only is his credibility being called into question, but also his relationship with all of the U.S. attorneys out there with this problem over the U.S. attorney firing. So you're losing the confidence and the credibility of your work force out there, your key work force, which is your U.S. attorneys. That's the problem he faces even more than simply his own credibility in Washington.
COLLINS: Is it fair to say President Bush is standing by him now just out of loyalty?
BARR: I'm not sure whether it's out of loyalty or some foolhardy notion that if he sticks it out long enough it will right himself. The president is in an absolutely untenable situation. You can't have a feud involving one top Justice Department official calling another a liar in essence and think that it's all going to go away. He has to do something. Common sense tells us that Mr. Attorney General needs to leave.
COLLINS: How can he do that now though, at this point?
BARR: I think he could do it very easily. He wouldn't have to admit that somebody had lied. He would simply have to say that this problem has -- is beginning to consume far too much of our time in administering justice in this country and carrying out investigations. I love this man. He's been a great attorney general, blah, blah, blah but we have to make a change here for the good of the country.
COLLINS: If in fact that were to happen, any idea who the attorney general should be or could be?
BARR: This is part of the problem that I understand the administration has been facing over the last several months as this problem over the U.S. attorneys' firings and the NSA scandal have been bubbling. And that is they're having difficulty finding somebody who would take the job. So I'm not sure that they really have a person in mind yet.
COLLINS: Hmm. And that could be the crux of some of this.
BARR: It could be very problematic for them also. You have a lame duck administration with relatively little time left and a department that will need a lot of hands-on administration.
COLLINS: All right. Bob Barr, always appreciate your perspective. Thanks.
YOUR WORLD TODAY is coming up next on CNN. I want to check in with Hala Gorani now to see what they're working on. Hi, Hala.
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Heidi. At the top of the hour join Jim Clancy and myself on "Your World Today" at the top of the hour. We're going to take to you Pakistan where a suicide blaster kills more than 10 people near the Red Mosque which has been the center of deadly con front takings between Islamic radicals and Pakistani police. We're live in Islamabad.
Also, we were going to take to you the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Our John Zarrella will go through a report that will be published online at noon Eastern. An alarming report according to an industry that says astronauts had been allowed or have been allowed in the past to fly spacecraft drunk. Are also we'll take to you are Tehran in Iran. Our Aneesh Raman introduces us to a very unusual cab company. Women drivers for women passengers in Iran. All that and more at the top of the hour on YOUR WORLD TODAY. Hope you can join us.
COLLINS: I love that story. Thank you so much, Hala, we'll be watching.
Also watching Wall Street today. The selling isn't over. Even after the Dow's second worst point decline of the year. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange now with the damage report. Hi there, Susan.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well, often times when there is the decisive sell-off that we saw yesterday, there are some investors who will stick their toes back into the water looking for bargains. Obviously that's not happening. And while the three major averages did venture into positive territory earlier, they couldn't hold even those very modest gains. That's a sign that the fear that drove the market down yesterday is still with us today. Having said that, the losses aren't nearly as bad as yesterday when the Dow tumbled 311 points. Checking the big boards, the Dow got close to a triple digit decline. Down 85 points. The NASDAQ Composite is down 14. This there is big volume for a second day. Something that indicates the conviction behind the selling. The treasury secretary Hank Paulson told our Elaine Quijano this morning that the kind of market versatility we're seeing is a wakeup call, Heidi, saying wherever there are excesses, there's an adjustment. That's what it is. It's an adjustment.
COLLINS: It's an adjustment, like when you eat too much at the table. You loosen your ...
LISOVICZ: You have to push yourself away.
COLLINS: That's right. What kinds of things are investors looking at today in the face of all of this?
LISOVICZ: Well, worries about the weak housing market and tightening credit seem to be carrying over from yesterday, Heidi. Cadbury Schweppes today said it's extending the timetable for the sale of its North American drinks business because of turmoil in the debt market. Problems with debt make it more difficult for firms to borrow money and meanwhile lending standards have become more stringent for consumers, too. It's called a credit crunch.
Concerns about higher energy also still there. Crude up more than a dollar. Closing in on its all-time high. We did get some good news about economic are growth in the second quarter. First look at second quarter GDP came in better than expected. And at its strongest pace since the first quarter of '06. But clearly not enough to get the bulls running, not so far anyway, Heidi. Back to you.
COLLINS: All right. It's the weekends. We'll see what happens on Monday. How about that? All right, Susan, thank you.
LISOVICZ: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Mel Gibson vowed to make amends. But was there f really any follow-through?
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has anyone ever heard from him? Are there any Jewish groups? I'm not aware of any groups or survivors that he's contacted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Stars' promises, are they keeping them? We're keeping them honest, after this.
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COLLINS: We've all heard of cat burglars, right? But a pool thief in New Jersey puts their selfishness to shame. Listen to this, Daisy Valdivia says someone stole her inflatable ten foot backyard pool filled with 1,000 gallons of water. The pool was snatched Wednesday night. Neither daisy, nor her husband nor their dog heard a thing. Not only was this thief extraordinarily quiet, he was also neat. The area around the pool was completely dry. The case of the missing pool has police and the victims absolutely stumped.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAILY VALDIVIA, POOL STOLEN: I hope they enjoy it. You know, I really miss the pool.
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COLLINS: So bizarre. Daisy says she won't buy another pool without buying a fence first. Good idea.
Promises made, promises kept. What happens with badly behaving celebrities after the storm? CNN's Sibila Vargas finds out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just after Mel Gibson's infamous anti-Semitic rants, he promised to meet with Jewish leaders. Gibson's publicist says he's kept that promise but won't reveal details.
Rabbi Marva Heyer (ph) of the Simon Wiesenthal Center says he has seen no evidence of any such meetings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you ask me has there been any indication, has anyone ever heard from him, are there Jewish groups that have heard from him, I'm not aware of any groups or survivors he's contacted.
VARGAS: A few months after Gibson's incident, Michael Richards had his own moments of infamy. Shouting racist insults at patrons of an L.A. comedy club.
MICHAEL RICHARDS, ACTOR: Personal work. Deep personal work.
VARGAS: Richards promised to get anger management training, which he did. He also promised to meet with the men he insulted. When their representative insisted on making the meeting a public one, Richards declined.
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: I think that people are more and more skeptical as more and more celebrities don't show real follow-up and real are contrition.
VARGAS: Radio host are Don Imus kept his promise to meet with the Rutgers University women's basketball team after describing them in derogatory terms on the air. He lost his are job. Reverend Al Sharpton, who campaigned for Imus to be fired, now says he would not oppose his coming back.
SHARPTON: If he returns at some point we would have to monitor to see what that means and what he will do.
HOWARD BRAGMAN, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: It's ultimately about doing the right thing.
VARGAS: Publicist Howard Bragman tries to get fallen stars back on track. His client, Isaiah Washington lost his role on TV's "Gray's Anatomy" after using an anti-gay slur. Even though he kept his public promises.
BRAGMAN: He made apologies. He talked to his cast. He met with some of the gay and lesbian groups and we taped a PSA.
ISAIAH WASHINGTON, ACTOR: When you use words that demean a person because of their sexual orientation, race or gender, you send a message of hate.
BRAGMAN: People have to truly be repentant and have to acknowledge their mistake and then I think we'll give them a chance. But it goes to talent, too. When I worry about Paris Hilton.
PARIS HILTON, CELEBRITY: I want to set up a place where these women can get themselves back on their feet.
VARGAS: Just days after promising to open a halfway house for former prison inmates, Paris was off to Hawaii.
BRAGMAN: I don't think anybody expected Paris wasn't going to have a club, wasn't going to have fun or party anymore. And Paris said that's not me anymore. I'm not going to do that anymore and she did.
VARGAS (on camera): Well, that's what gets people wondering when you see someone like Paris. You wonder, is that lip service, is that a P.R. stunt?
BRAGMAN: I think a lot of the job is the media's job to call these people out on it.
VARGAS (voice-over): Well, we've been checking but in the last few days Paris has attended at least one charity event. Maybe she'll follow through, maybe she won't. Celebrities who promise to mend their ways have a mixed report card. Sibila Vargas, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Reports of astronauts flying under the influence. NASA will be responding. The space agency holding a news conference at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. You'll see it live, right here in THE NEWSROOM.
LISOVICZ: And all eyes on the Dow. See-sawing this morning after a huge downer after a day, down about 120 points right at this moment. We're watching the numbers.
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COLLINS: I want to take one more look at the numbers. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down at this very moment about 105 points. Settling there at least for the moment at 13368. We'll watch those numbers for you. Yesterday, I'm sure you recall, down 311 points.
So the day is young and we will watch it.
Meanwhile, running away on the runway. Sky Harbor International Airport, a dog not waiting for takeoff instructions. As a safety precaution, air traffic controllers delayed a U.S. Airways jet from landing. The puppies made its way into one of the airports' terminal buildings.
After about 30 minutes, airport workers finally corralled Fido and handed him over to animal control folks. Hmm.
CNN NEWSROOM continues just one hour from now. YOUR WORLD TODAY is next with news happening around the globe and right here at home. I'm Heidi Collins. Have a great weekend, everybody.
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